Nutritional composition having lipophilic compounds with improved solubility and bioavailability

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a nutritional composition having at least one protein, at least one fat, and at least one lipophilic compound, the composition comprising at least one assembly comprising at least one hydrophobic protein, monoglycerides and diglycerides (“MDG”) and at least one lipophilic compound, wherein at least 1% of the total MDG in the nutritional composition remains in the aqueous phase after centrifugation at 100,000×g for 1 hour at 20° C.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for preparing a nutritional composition, the method comprising:
 mixing a lipophilic compound, a surfactant, and an MDG component to form a premix, wherein the MDG component comprises monoglycerides and diglycerides;   combining the premix so formed with a protein-in-fat slurry to form a protected premix; and   combining the protected premix so formed with the remaining ingredients of the nutritional composition,   wherein the premix is not added to oils or fats other than the MDG component before being added to the protein-in-fat slurry.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protected premix has a size of 60 kD to 1,000 kD. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the protected premix has a size of 60 kD to 400 kD. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic compound comprises a carotenoid, a lipid soluble vitamin, a lipophilic antioxidant, a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the lipophilic compound comprises lutein, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), ganglioside, phospholipid, phosphoinositide, glycophospholipid, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the lipophilic compound comprises lutein. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant comprises lecithin, polyglycerol esters, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the surfactant comprises lecithin. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the surfactant consists of lecithin. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lipophilic compound comprises lutein and the surfactant comprises lecithin. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic compound, the surfactant, and the MDG component are mixed with heating. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the premix consists of the lipophilic compound, the surfactant, and the MDG component. 
     
     
         13 . A method for preparing a nutritional composition, the method comprising:
 mixing a lipophilic compound, a surfactant, a protein having a grand average of hydropathicity index (GRAVY) value of −0.5 to 0, and an MDG component to form a premix, wherein the MDG component comprises monoglycerides and diglycerides;   combining the premix so formed with a protein-in-fat slurry to form a protected premix; and   combining the protected premix so formed with the remaining ingredients of the nutritional composition,   wherein the premix is not added to oils or fats other than the MDG component before being added to the protein-in-fat slurry.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the lipophilic compound comprises a carotenoid, a lipid soluble vitamin, a lipophilic antioxidant, a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the lipophilic compound comprises lutein, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), ganglioside, phospholipid, phosphoinositide, glycophospholipid, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the lipophilic compound comprises lutein. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the surfactant comprises lecithin, polyglycerol esters, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the surfactant comprises lecithin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the surfactant consists of lecithin. 
     
     
         20 . A method for preparing a nutritional composition, the method comprising:
 mixing a lipophilic compound, a surfactant, and an MDG component to form a premix, wherein the MDG component comprises monoglycerides and diglycerides;   combining the premix so formed with a protein-in-fat slurry to form a protected premix; and   combining the protected premix so formed with the remaining ingredients of the nutritional composition,   wherein the premix consists of the lipophilic compound, the surfactant, and the MDG component.